Holiday Morning Casserole

For as long as I can remember, my mom has made this breakfast casserole every Christmas morning. It’s perfect because you can make it the night before, pop it in the oven right before the kids come downstairs, and then it will be ready by the time everyone’s ripped through their stockings. Or, you can make this as breakfast for dinner whenever you’d like. It’s kind of magical that way. Something about how the bread soaks up the cheesy, eggy goodness makes this a perfectly comforting breakfast.

Another fun thing about this holiday morning casserole is how many possible variations there could be. You can use either sweet or savory sausage, or perhaps ham instead. Spinach, bell peppers, or even baked butternut squash could be added to make this healthier. You could even add some hot sauce or maple syrup, if that’s your jam. The possibilities are endless. Enjoy, and merry Christmas!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter

6 slices of bread

6 eggs

1 pound breakfast sausage

1/2 pound cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 pound colby jack or Havarti cheese, shredded

3 cups half and half

1 tablespoon paprika

1/2 tablespoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Brown and drain your sausage. Grease a 9 x 13 pan with butter. Cut crusts off the bread and flatten each slice with a rolling pin. Cover the bottom of your dish with 6 slices of bread. Layer with meat and cheese.

Mix eggs, half and half, paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour the egg mixture over all. You may cover and leave to refrigerate overnight, but you don’t have to. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes.